The secret world of orchids

Chapter 1

Visual tricksters of the meadow

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Answer

Chapter 2

Perfume traps and chemical forgery

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Answer

Chapter 3

The dark side of food fraud

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Answer

Chapter 4

Underground alliances and fungal friendships

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YOUR GOAL

Master of The secret world of orchids

Ch 3 · The dark side of food fraud

suaz

Glossary

pogonia rosa (sustantivo)
Orquídea de América del Norte que habita en pantanos y atrae polinizadores con su dulce aroma. Es la reina del fraude alimentario: promete un festín de néctar pero deja a las abejas vacías.

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suaz

I had no idea 10,000 orchid species survive by basically catfishing bugs.

suaz I had no idea 10,000 orchid species survive by basically catfishing bugs.

suaz

It's wild that this orchid mimics a red iris just to trick pollinators.

suaz It's wild that this orchid mimics a red iris just to trick pollinators.

suaz

Fun Fact

Orchid food-fraud: The rose pogonia orchid uses fake yellow hairs to lure hungry bees. Instead of a real meal, they leave empty-handed but covered in pollen.

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Tricky Treats

artiteacher Tricky Treats

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Sweet Pretenders

artiteacher Sweet Pretenders

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artiteacher The fake pollen of the pogonia orchid

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artiteacher Mimicking the reward of fire lilies

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artiteacher Mimicking the reward of fire lilies

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artiteacher The empty promise of nectar

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artiteacher The fake pollen of the pogonia orchid

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artiteacher The empty promise of nectar

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artiteacher The double-crossing epidendrum orchids

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artiteacher The double-crossing epidendrum orchids

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artiteacher Food fraud

I look so sweet but there's no nectar here, baby I'm a beautiful lie!

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The fake pollen of the pogonia orchid

artiteacher The fake pollen of the pogonia orchid

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Fun Fact

Slow learners: Young, inexperienced bees are the primary victims of food-deceiving orchids before they learn to avoid them.

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Mimicking the reward of fire lilies

artiteacher Mimicking the reward of fire lilies

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Glossary

salep (noun)
A starch or flour made from the dried tubers of various orchid plants, used as food or medicine. In Turkey, commercial mixtures of this powder are frequently adulterated with cheaper starches to maximize supplier profits.

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Quiz

What does the North American rose pogonia orchid use to trick bees looking for protein?